'hunting dogs' my copy of an engraving by Edwin Landseer published in 1839
I need your help and imagination for a name.
I’m getting a lucher pup. An impulse buy. Well, not really. Not really really.
I have a thing about sight-hounds; their elegance, their gracefulness and their extraordinary fluid beauty when moving.
I fell in love with, and chose to have, Deerhounds many years back. My last one, Duna, died about thirteen years ago and I always vowed I’d get another one day. Circumstances change. The farm and business took up all my time as did my working collies. Every now and again when looking through old photographs or at one of our longdog/lurcher prints I wistfully reminisce about deerhounds.
The other Saturday I was in Hatherleigh and picked up a couple of local papers to read and then to use as fire lighting (we’d run out of easy-burning fire paper, nothing is as good as newspaper to start a fire with!). There, on the same page, were deerhound and lurcher pups for sale. The lucher being a cross of deerhound, saluki, bedlington, greyhound/whippet and collie (all dogs I love!).
I went to see them both. I agonised. I sort family opinion. ‘Oh, go for the deerhound.’ Was the general consensus.
Then Will came up with a very pertinent point “One thing to think about mum. On your walks, just round the farm even, when you check stock and whatnot. The dogs, they always go through small gaps, under the gates and hedges, through brambles and things. I don’t think a deerhound would manage. Just the sheer size of her. And you couldn’t leave her behind, could you?”
A point I hadn’t even thought of and yes, it’s very true. So that kind of tipped the balance. Well, for the moment anyway.
So little lurcher it is. She tiny, just five weeks old, a silver-blue brindle with dark blue eyes. She’s a very gentle soul, dainty and adorably sweet. What should we call her? Elf is a favourite and Iona (but not suitable for calling). Of course there are all those wonderful lurcher names too; Gypsy, Lady, Lark and Queenie or the plant ones; Flax, Willow, Aspen and Rowan.
What are your suggestions?
27 comments
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March 30, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Alison
She sounds delightful, and I look forward to seeing pictures…
Long long ago, when I was a young thing just out in the world, one of my co-workers (who also had two large and kindly German Shepherds) had an absolutely gorgeous and goodnatured tiny dog. Her dog looked just like a tiny wolfhound or deerhound, only being about 12 inches tall. Adopted her from the animal shelter, so had no idea what the parents were, but little “Zazi” had so much personality. Her name was great, short and easy to call, but a bit exotic sounding…
Oh, and I just had another idea… given the likely appearance of the new dogs coat, what about calling her “Thistle”
March 30, 2009 at 8:53 pm
paula
My dogs think I’ve gone a little barmy – out there calling all these weird names! Just 12 inches – that really is tiny! This one will be about 22/23 inches I should think.
Zazi’s a good name to call though and Thistle – that’s a good one too.
Thanks Alison!
March 30, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Jane
I like Elf – but here are a few others to throw into the mix.
Breeze (cos she will be as fast as the wind)
Tuulen (I think that is Finnish for wind – as in Tuulen Tytär – daughter of the wind)
Apple (don’t know why, just like this name!)
Jane
March 30, 2009 at 8:56 pm
paula
Oh you are clever people – I knew I’d get some cracking suggestions!
Breeze is pretty and Tuulen is different. I shall experiment! Thank you.
March 30, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Sian
Years ago I knew a small blue/grey gentle lurcher – she was called “Teasel” because of the way her fur kind of stuck out. Bit like these images on this stencil : http://www.hennydonovanmotif.co.uk/giant_teasel_2.htm
Whatever it is, has got to be something easy to yell across a field at 5am in the morning? LOL!
March 30, 2009 at 8:59 pm
paula
Love those stencils! And love Teasel – though I feel she might be quite a ‘neat’ animal.
As you say – is it shoutable…?:)
March 31, 2009 at 3:12 am
alison
Yup, that is why my big Akita-girl is named Smokey… not that I need to do much shouting these days, she’s 14, but when she was a puppy, we wanted to be able to call her easily.
March 31, 2009 at 8:12 pm
colouritgreen
I had a lurcher dog when I was grewing up..still mess him now, so do relate to how you can love these dogs
how about Freya
April 2, 2009 at 9:39 am
paula
I love Freya – if I ever had had a daughter it was a possibility, 4 sons later…
April 1, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Fiona P
She sounds lovely Paula,my suggestions to try out are:Tess,Tammy,Luna(our neighbours have a red setter named this),Bella and Olivia!!!!!!! Can’t wait to see the first pics of her
April 2, 2009 at 9:42 am
paula
One of my deerhounds was Duna (dark maiden in Celtic), very similar to Luna.
Ohh, nice other suggestions too.
April 1, 2009 at 7:00 pm
joy marlborough
You said it yourself, how about Dainty. It calls well. There used to
be some toffees called Dainty Dinah. Perhaps Dinah as she’s so
small and sweet?
April 2, 2009 at 9:38 am
paula
Thank you – thank you all. Some very appealing names, I have my favourites. I now think the thing to do is to wait until she’s here and then the right choice will become obvious…I hope!
As soon as I have her I’ll post some ‘ahhh’ puppy photos.
April 2, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Jane
Can’t wait to see a picture of her. I’m ready to do my very best ooo’ing and ahhh’ing!
April 3, 2009 at 8:44 am
mary
Lovely news Paula. She sounds very sweet but isn’t she very young to have left Mum or have I misunderstood? Can’t think of any better suggestions than the creative ones already offered here – I like your plant names especially Aspen where you have the connection to Robert’s interest. She will have a lovely life with you and the other dogs whatever she is called. It will be interesting to hear from you how they get on with each other.
April 7, 2009 at 8:29 pm
paula
No she won’t be here until she’s eight weeks old – which is Easter – this weekend! In fact I’ve just spoken to her breeder who is thrilled with the names everyone has suggested. She feels that Breeze suits her – but I’m not making a choice until she’s here. Will let you know…
April 3, 2009 at 3:43 pm
heidi
I can never pick a name for a new animal until I see what their personality is like..That and there are so many great choices…
Still here’s my ten cents= Fiona, Skye, Lily and Mae
Our old black Lab was named Bob, he came with the husband so I had nothing to do with picking a name. Bob suited him, although he was “Robert!!” when he had gotten into something,(rifling through the garbage can) or was off on walk about and didn’t want to come back yet..
Can’t wait to see the new puppy!
April 7, 2009 at 8:35 pm
paula
It’s hopeless isn’t it! At least with the calves I have an alphabet regime – each year the next letter so you just pick less choice.
And thanks for your suggestions too – Skye is already here, Lily and Mae are pretty.
She arrives on Monday – her breeder is doing some horse thing near by and is bringing her down for me. Getting excited!
April 5, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Nan
Paula, because I recently read of a lurcher in Jacqueline Winspear’s An Incomplete Revenge, I would use a name from that book. The gypsy woman called the dog, jook with a small ‘J’ which is the gypsy word for dog.
April 7, 2009 at 8:38 pm
paula
That’s a really good name, short and easy to call. But maybe sounds a little more male do you think?
Shall have a look at the book too!
April 8, 2009 at 4:53 pm
mary
Silly me Paula. Yes I should have known that the puppy would not leave until she was 8 weeks old. I hope we see her photo.
There is a bonus in having a rescue dog that already has a name. Having missed Robbie for over two months, I took the plunge and applied to a dog rescue society to rehome a dog. A black collie cross aged 2 named LILY came up for rehoming (there is no room for her in a small house with two very young children) and all being well and the check on my home and safety of the garden fencing getting the OK, I might have her this weekend. I am overjoyed, feel slightly disloyal to dear Robbie’s memory but I am sure he wouldn’t mind.
PS I see you Twitter now. Do you use a Blackberry type gadget for that and how on earth do you get the time with everything else going on in your work and home life and running this site too?
April 12, 2009 at 9:55 pm
paula
Oh Mary I’m so glad you’ve taken the plunge – it must be so lonely not having Robbie around, especially as you walk a lot. I do hope Lily will be with you for the weekend – longing to hear all about her and how she settles in…
April 9, 2009 at 3:58 am
liv4eal
Hi Paula, I have a 2 year old deerhound named Cailean, (the doggie light of my life) we call her Caylee for short. I have been collecting names for her someday pups and my future dogs. A name I have been treasuring since reading it on Rogue the deerhounds blog Feb 2008 is Elasaid the Grey dog of Meoble who’s legend is a highland tale about a deerhound so bonded to her owner she mourned on his grave until her death and beyond. Ella for short would be a fitting tribute to this very old tale.
I am sure you will know the right name for her when you get her home.
April 12, 2009 at 9:51 pm
paula
Aren’t deerhounds just the most wonderful dogs – and their history too. I shall have a look at the blog. What a special story and name – thanks for suggesting it and for taking the time to leave a comment.
April 11, 2009 at 10:55 am
Beadle
I too think the name Breeze sounds really good – you could always shorten it to Bree which is really easy to shout (and to remember in the first place!!)
April 11, 2009 at 9:55 pm
paula
Niks – we are at the stage where we chose a name, decided it was not quite her – thought of a million more, gone back to the first…and are now calling her ‘puppy’ argh!
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